La Union under state of calamity

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union: The La Union Provincial Government has declared the province under a state of calamity as a result of extensive flooding in 20 municipalities because of rains and storm surge brought about by Tropical Storm Egay.

The number of people affected by the weather disturbance that hit northern Luzon was recorded at 11,751 families or 48,307 people in Regions 1, 4-B and the Cordillera Administrative Region, according to the National Disaster Risk Re-duction and Management Coun- cil (NDRRMC).

Relief goods were already distributed to the people, according to Social Welfare Secretary Co-razon Soliman.

As to damage to infrastructure, the NDRRMC estimated the cost at P6,067,945.90, both in infrastructure and agricultural crops in the CAR and Region 1 (Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Norte).

There were bridges that were closed in Isabela province, said the Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in a report. These are the overflow bridges in Alicaocao (Cauayan), Baculod (Ilagan), Pigalo in San Guillermo-Angadanan area, Santa Maria-Cabagan, Cabagan-Santo Tomas, and Gucab in Echague that were submerged by floodwaters on Sunday and Monday.

Some schools have resumed classes but Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. on Tuesday suspended classes from pre-school to high school in all public and private institutions in the province.

This was due to the moderate to occasionally heavy monsoon rains still prevailing over the province.

In La Union, the towns of San Juan and Bacnotan are still flooded but power lines have been partially restored on Monday, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines announced.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council head Bobby Valdriz also announced that the San Fernando-Bauang Road going to Manila has been reopened.

La Union police, meanwhile, reported that residents in Barangay Pagdalagan Sur in Bauang town discovered a body of a man, in a state of decomposition on the shores on Tuesday. The corpse was described by Bauang Police chief Rex Buyucan, as 5 feet and 5 inches in height, medium-built, short and curly-haired and only wore briefs was brought to a local funeral parlor for autopsy.

Although La Union has not yet recorded a typhoon-related fatality, it was possible that the body was a victim from the calamity that hit the province on Sunday.